Sammy Gellerstedt

[banditbob]

What was the name was the quick middle guard for the Tide in the late 70's or early 80's. It was Sammy G-something. What was his story on leaving the program?

 

[drsmithofga]

If the G is the initial of the last name, the only Sam G. that lettered at Bama would be Sam GELLERSTEDT (Nose guard), but he lettered in 1968. He's from Montgomery, AL. No other Sammy G players listed as lettermen.

 

[banditbob]

WoW! !968! I remember seeing him dive under the opposing center and make stops in the opponents backfield. Boy, he was quick! Did he have some off the field problems that caused him to leave the team?

 

[drsmithofga]

61 — Sam Gellerstedt
All-American: 1968
Career: 1968
5'8" - 196 lbs.
Nose Guard
Montgomery, Ala.

Gellerstedt was a sophomore during his one All-American season.

Gellerstedt earned first-team All-America honors from The Football News in 1968 and was also an All-SEC selection. Although defensive statistics were not kept during that era, he was awarded UPI Lineman of the Week honors after the Mississippi State game. He was also awarded “Defender of the Week” honors following the Virginia Tech, Vanderbilt, Mississippi State and LSU games by the Tide coaching staff.

Its been said that Coach Bryant said he was the best nose guard he ever saw and the most disappointing player he ever had. Apparently, he's still around in Alabama somewhere.

Would be great if Gellerstedt could be added to the thread title so someone else with insight might chime in with his story.

 

[drsmithofga]

Here's a comment from TommyMac from earlier this year:

Sammy Gellerstedt - A miniature NG, probably weighed 190 with a wet pea-coat on. He only played as a Soph in 1968 before Coach Bryant booted him for smoking a little grass. But he never shortchanged his teammates or coaches while on the field. Incredibly quick, he disrupted the timing of enemy offenses with his uncanny ability to penetrate and often cause the QB to fhave to rush his handoffs. A regular Energizer bunny, he even occasionally crawed between the legs of blockers to blow up a play. Little red-headed kid with glasses as thick as Coke bottles. Rode a bicycle around campus and it was rumored that Coach Bryant worried that with his poor vision, he was gonna get ran over some day.

 

[PIPinTALLY]

A 5'8 195lb nose guard, go figure. Just imagine Brodie playing nose guard, but a few inches taller.

 

[TommyMac]

He transferred to the University of Tampa, played at least one season there, maybe more, but I'm not sure. He was definitely fun to watch.

 

[drsmithofga]

I love history. Just read that University of Tampa had a football team until 1974, when it's board of trustees decided to bring an end to the debt-ridden program.

If Sam did play a second year at Tampa, which would have been his senior year, he would have played for a 10-1 Tampa team that went to the Orange Bowl and beat Miami under coach Fran Curci. He may have played with John "Tooz" Matuszak.

 

[NYBamaFan]

A 5'8 195lb nose guard, go figure. Just imagine Brodie playing nose guard, but a few inches taller.

Actually, 195 pounds is pretty thick for someone only 5'8" tall - assuming muscle, not fat...

 

[TIDE-HSV]

All of CPB's

players were all muscle...

 

[BamaZone]

I have been friends with Sammy and his dad for a while.

Sammy is living near Orlando now, taking care of his 3 sons. Doesn't get the chance to go to many games.

Moved there from Montgomery about 2-3 years ago. Comes back to visit his father every once in a while.

He's quiet and a real soft spoken guy that is dedicated to raising his sons. He doesn't talk too much about his tenure at Bama. He's very proud of his time at the Capstone. (In my opinion, it's his nature not to him brag about anything ... what he has or what his accomplishments are).

Back in '67, during the Bama/Auburn played freshman team game, Sammy set up housekeeping in the Auburn backfield.

I got his Dad the Highlights of the '68 season tape. CPB talked highly of Sammy throughout the season. During the Auburn game, Coach commented, "Sammy would get a lot more tackles but he is doubled-teamed every play."

He did make All-American his sophmore year and would have surely been an AP/UPI All-American his junior/senior year.

 

[TommyMac]

I love history. Just read that University of Tampa had a football team until 1974, when it's board of trustees decided to bring an end to the debt-ridden program.

If Sam did play a second year at Tampa, which would have been his senior year, he would have played for a 10-1 Tampa team that went to the Orange Bowl and beat Miami under coach Fran Curci. He may have played with John "Tooz" Matuszak.

Tampa produced some pretty good players back then. Freddie Solomen of the 49ers and the Tooz are probably the most well known, but about that time they had a Michael Vick type QB named Leon "X-ray" McQuay who was some kind of quick. That was before 40 times, but I'd say he was probably legitimately in the 4.3's.

BamaZone,

Thanks for the update on Sammy. Glad to hear he's doing well. He remains one of my all-time favorites despite only playing one year. I gotta believe he would've improved our W/L records in 69 and 70 if he'd stayed. I know most of our younger posters, used to these behemoth NG's of today might be a little skeptical, but Sammy was freaky good.